I FIXED MY INPUTLAG

[pamuuu]

Hello, I finally got rid of my input lag.
I know I’m not the only one, and maybe this will help someone else too.

So I’ll start from the beginning.
Back then, I had two PCs connected to the same power outlet using a power strip (monitor etc. as well, of course). I had a cable internet connection with QoS and UPnP enabled. About 5–6 years ago I was 3k Elo on Faceit with around 28 average in CS:GO. Then suddenly everything started to feel “floaty” and unresponsive.

I found the problem the day before yesterday.
I connected my second PC again, including my monitor, so basically I’m now running two PCs on the same outlet. After restarting everything, my mouse felt slower again like it used to back then, and players no longer “Ferrari peek” me like I experienced over the last few years.

Of course CS2 is different and more client-sided because of sub-tick (which is complete garbage), but it now feels like it used to – only the game itself is different. I can finally hold angles properly again.

I found out that my power grid has voltage fluctuations, and the second PC kind of stabilizes the line, giving me a stable gaming experience.

If you live in Europe for example, in an older house, and have the same problems, try getting a surge-protected power strip.

I’m not a technician or anything, and maybe someone here can give a technical explanation for this, but for me, connecting the second PC to the same outlet solved the problem.

[Hyote]

Tried, no luck.

[ablemor]

It's not about voltage, but rather EMI grounding or earth potential.

[MK92]

Yes, for whatever unknown reasons, older houses / apartments in Europe have exactly this problem. More things are using the electricity = more stable circuit = perfectly working PC. And not just the second PC, everything that draws higher amount of power works great, like clothing iron, hairdryer, oven etc.

But I don't see how a surge protector would help in this scenario, I tried one high-quality surge protection power strip already, which even had EM/RF filter included, and it didn't change anything.

The wiring has high impedance when only lightly loaded, but when you turn ON any appliance, the line stabilizes...that's what I think it is. But how to fix this without re-wiring the entire house?

[WastedEmit]

Do you have the 2nd pc powered on, or just connected to the outlet with PSU switch on?

[vnb]

Western EU here. I noticed the exact same thing. As others said above, the more high wattage devices you connect to one plug, the better it feels, very weird.

Even when i connect my PC and let's say a 1800 W hair dryer to the same plug, it feels way smoother for a certain time. And i noticed that on multiple residences. Seems like a common issue?

I noticed that especially on my monitor it's feels like the refresh rate is higher / everything feels more in-real time.

In an old apartment i rented in the past there was still a room that was not grounded ( each plug had no ground) and when i put my PC on those plugs i felt the same behaviour : cursor was faster than in the other rooms with ground.

I wonder if having bad / good ground can change that feeling? I remember reading in the past that like 70% of habitations in EU have bad / ineffective grounding especially old houses (so like 90% of habitations in Western EU, lol).

[fff333]

Hello, I finally got rid of my input lag.
I know I’m not the only one, and maybe this will help someone else too.

So I’ll start from the beginning.
Back then, I had two PCs connected to the same power outlet using a power strip (monitor etc. as well, of course). I had a cable internet connection with QoS and UPnP enabled. About 5–6 years ago I was 3k Elo on Faceit with around 28 average in CS:GO. Then suddenly everything started to feel “floaty” and unresponsive.

I found the problem the day before yesterday.
I connected my second PC again, including my monitor, so basically I’m now running two PCs on the same outlet. After restarting everything, my mouse felt slower again like it used to back then, and players no longer “Ferrari peek” me like I experienced over the last few years.

Of course CS2 is different and more client-sided because of sub-tick (which is complete garbage), but it now feels like it used to – only the game itself is different. I can finally hold angles properly again.

I found out that my power grid has voltage fluctuations, and the second PC kind of stabilizes the line, giving me a stable gaming experience.

If you live in Europe for example, in an older house, and have the same problems, try getting a surge-protected power strip.

I’m not a technician or anything, and maybe someone here can give a technical explanation for this, but for me, connecting the second PC to the same outlet solved the problem.

Hi Bratan, appreciate the sharing.

Would you be able to provide us with some pics of what your setup/plugging configuration looks like? It would give us all a better picture.

Thank you

[MK92]

Western EU here. I noticed the exact same thing. As others said above, the more high wattage devices you connect to one plug, the better it feels, very weird.

Even when i connect my PC and let's say a 1800 W hair dryer to the same plug, it feels way smoother for a certain time. And i noticed that on multiple residences. Seems like a common issue?

I noticed that especially on my monitor it's feels like the refresh rate is higher / everything feels more in-real time.

In an old apartment i rented in the past there was still a room that was not grounded ( each plug had no ground) and when i put my PC on those plugs i felt the same behaviour : cursor was faster than in the other rooms with ground.

I wonder if having bad / good ground can change that feeling? I remember reading in the past that like 70% of habitations in EU have bad / ineffective grounding especially old houses (so like 90% of habitations in Western EU, lol).

Not even the same plug, I can plug the hairdryer into the bathroom socket and it would still stabilize everything in my room, or iron in the kitchen etc., even turning on the kitchen hood instantly changes how PC behaves, monitor instantly have more vivid colours, clean text, faster refresh rate.

And apparently its better to have NO groudning at all in room, then having a BAD grounding with high impedance.

[adrian_13371]

Western EU here. I noticed the exact same thing. As others said above, the more high wattage devices you connect to one plug, the better it feels, very weird.

Even when i connect my PC and let's say a 1800 W hair dryer to the same plug, it feels way smoother for a certain time. And i noticed that on multiple residences. Seems like a common issue?

I noticed that especially on my monitor it's feels like the refresh rate is higher / everything feels more in-real time.

In an old apartment i rented in the past there was still a room that was not grounded ( each plug had no ground) and when i put my PC on those plugs i felt the same behaviour : cursor was faster than in the other rooms with ground.

I wonder if having bad / good ground can change that feeling? I remember reading in the past that like 70% of habitations in EU have bad / ineffective grounding especially old houses (so like 90% of habitations in Western EU, lol).

As long as you guys can't really measure the difference in smoothness this problem will never gain any major attention because people will say that it's just placebo, smoothness is subjective, we need clear evidence. If you can capture this change on an uncut video then maybe some tech youtubers will get interested and then the problem will likely get figured out.

[vnb]

Not even the same plug, I can plug the hairdryer into the bathroom socket and it would still stabilize everything in my room, or iron in the kitchen etc., even turning on the kitchen hood instantly changes how PC behaves, monitor instantly have more vivid colours, clean text, faster refresh rate.

And apparently its better to have NO groudning at all in room, then having a BAD grounding with high impedance.

Yes, no grounding is better than having groud with high impedance, i totally agree. And if you ask any skilled electrician they will say the same exact thing : high impedance ground = groud is bad and needs to be reworked.

i'm not an electrician myself, so i don't know if running a Gaming PC on Plug without ground is safe in the long run...

As long as you guys can't really measure the difference in smoothness this problem will never gain any major attention because people will say that it's just placebo, smoothness is subjective, we need clear evidence. If you can capture this change on an uncut video then maybe some tech youtubers will get interested and then the problem will likely get figured out.

I agree that smoothness is subjective, however i invite you to do the same test. It is easy and quick. Plug for example an hairdryer (or any other high wattage device) in the same room as your PC and play for a little bit. I don’t know how to measure this is an objective manner, gotta ask someone else, good luck.